THE EVALUATION.

In line with the UNEP Evaluation Policy and the UNEP Programme Manual , the Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) is undertaken approximately half-way through project implementation to analyze whether the project is on-track, what problems or challenges the project is encountering, and what corrective actions are required. A key aim of the Mid-Term Evaluation is to encourage reflection and learning by UNEP staff, the implementing partners and key project stakeholders. The Evaluation Consultant should therefore, consider how reflection and learning can be promoted, both through the evaluation process and in the communication of evaluation findings and key lessons.

THE PROJECT

• Cities are the main contributors to climate change, accounting for around 70% of global carbon emissions, and can give the world the best chance of reversing its course towards a more sustainable path. The Sustainable cities Impact Program Global Platform (SCIP-GP) is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) Funded project intended to influence 9 targeted cities through capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy in order to enable cities to improve sustainability through i) policies, regulations and plans, ii) behaviours and utilization of better technologies and iii) investments.
• The SCIP GP project intended to bring together global, national and local champions that want to work together towards a common vision of sustainable and integrated development. Its objective is that: ‘cities pursue integrated urban planning and implementation and increase their ambitions, to deliver impactful sustainable development outcomes with global environmental benefits (GEBs)’ (Endorsement Package, 2020).

THE EVALUATION CONSULTANT

• The Evaluation Consultant, will work under the overall responsibility of the Evaluation Manager. Information and liaison support will be provided by the UNEP Task Manager and Fund Management Officer. The Evaluation Consultant will be responsible, in close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, for overall management of the Evaluation and timely delivery of its outputs. The Evaluation Consultant will ensure that all evaluation criteria and questions are adequately covered.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES.

• In close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, the Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for the overall management of the Evaluation and timely provision of its outputs, data collection and analysis, and report writing. More specifically, the Evaluation Consultant will undertake the following:

Inception phase of the Evaluation, including:

• preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff;
• draft the reconstructed Theory of Change of the project;
• prepare the evaluation framework;
• develop the desk review and interview protocols;
• draft the survey protocols (if relevant);
• develop and present criteria for country and/or site selection for the evaluation mission;
• plan the evaluation schedule;
• prepare the Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager

Data collection and analysis phase of the Evaluation, including:

• conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders;
• (where appropriate and agreed) conduct an evaluation mission(s) to selected countries, visit the project locations, interview project partners and stakeholders, including a good representation of local communities. Ensure independence of the Evaluation and confidentiality of evaluation interviews.
• regularly report back to the Evaluation Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered; and

Reporting phase, including:

• draft the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that the evaluation report is complete, coherent and consistent with the Evaluation Manager guidelines both in substance and style;
• liaise with the Evaluation Manager on comments received and finalize the Main Evaluation Report, ensuring that comments are taken into account until approved by the Evaluation Manager
• prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted by the Evaluation Consultant and indicating the reason for the rejection; and
• (where agreed with the Evaluation Manager) prepare an Evaluation Brief (2-page summary of the evaluand and the key evaluation findings and lessons)

Managing relations, including:

• maintain a positive relationship with evaluation stakeholders, ensuring that the evaluation process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence;
• communicate in a timely manner with the Evaluation Office on any issues requiring its attention and intervention.
• The Evaluation Consultant shall have had no prior involvement in the formulation or implementation of the project and will be independent from the participating institutions. The consultant will sign the Evaluation Consultant Code of Conduct Agreement Form.
• The evaluation Consultant will be selected and recruited by the UNEP Evaluation Office through an individual consultancy contract.
• Comprehensive terms of reference will be shared with the consultant separately.

Requirements

Qualifications/special skills

• A university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required and an advanced degree in the same areas is desirable
• A minimum of 7 years of technical/evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach
• A good/broad understanding of integrated/sustainable urban development is desired.
• Working knowledge of the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP is an added advantage.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is a requirement and proficiency in Spanish is desirable, and knowledge of any of the following would be an advantage: Portuguese, French, Mandarin, Bahasa and Hindi.